The cyclic method of birth control, also known as the symptothermal method, is a process in which a woman tracks her own fertile period through the study of body temperature and her own biological processes in order to determine when she is least, or most, likely to get pregnant during intercourse. This method, when properly used, is effective. However, proper use and mastery of the techniques involved entails a long, difficult process.
Significance
Sometimes known as the rhythm method, the cyclic method of birth control is favored by women who don't want to use medical birth control or who, for religious reasons, cannot take medication in order to regulate their fertility.
Function
The practice behind the cyclic method involves the study of basal body temperature and the discharge of vaginal mucus throughout the month. This requires a basal body temperature thermometer and the ability to accurately catalog your cervical mucus. The slight changes in basal body temperature and vaginal discharge can act as an indication of fertility.
Method
A woman must take her temperature before getting out of bed each morning, then write down the number. Keeping track of the change in body temperature over the course of a month is an effective way to get a baseline reading of exactly what the fertile cycle is. Monitoring the cervical mucus is essential to ensure an accurate estimate, as the mucus drastically changes color and consistency throughout the cycle. This is contingent upon your cycle being regular and predictable, as even a slight miscalculation can easily lead to pregnancy. This method is not effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections.
Testing
The cervical mucus will be heaviest and most viscous in the days immediately before and immediately after the period of ovulation. By tracking the cervical mucus for at least 6 months before switching to the cyclic method, a baseline can be achieved in which the woman will be able to quickly tell when she is ovulating and when her safe and unsafe days for intercourse occur. Taking the basal body temperature around the same time every morning is vital; immediately before ovulation, the body temperature will decrease slightly, then increase during ovulation by up to 1/2 of a degree. After three days of consistently higher temperatures, the infertile time begins.
Warnings
It is impossible to effectively use the cyclic method of birth control without at least 6 months of close monitoring of basal body temperature and cervical mucus. Because the entire system is based on these two factors, without accurate readings, a sudden switch can easily lead to an unwanted pregnancy or the failure to conceive when desired. Accurate mapping of both components should be done on graph paper to ensure the greatest accuracy.
Tags: body temperature, basal body, basal body temperature, cervical mucus, birth control
